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The flu remains widespread in Maine but the illness’ severity may be easing nationally, according to weekly data released Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Maine and 46 other states reported widespread flu activity, according to the report, which covers the week of Dec. 30 through Jan 5. That’s up from 41 states the prior week. The only states without widespread flu were Mississippi, California, and Hawaii.

While the flu spread geographically, the number of states hit hard with people seeking treatment for influenza-like illness at outpatient clinics declined last week. Twenty-four states had high activity, down from 29 last week. Maine was among five states labeled with “minimal” activity, but that doesn’t accurately reflect the flu’s toll here, according to state epidemiologist Dr. Stephen Sears.

Nationally, 7.3 percent of deaths last week were attributed to pneumonia and the flu. That just barely crosses the epidemic threshold of 7.2 percent, according to the CDC.

The CDC doesn’t track adult flu deaths, but Maine public health officials have received anecdotal reports that the flu has claimed some adult lives, as it typically does every season, Sears said. The elderly and people with underlying medical conditions are particularly vulnerable.

“There will be deaths from this,” he said. “This is significant, severe influenza.”

The vaccine is reformulated each year to match emerging strains of the illness. This year’s vaccine offers good protection against all three strains circulating nationally, according to health officials.

The CDC still encourages everyone over 6 months of age to be vaccinated against the flu, including those who were immunized last year. While vaccinated people may still get sick with the flu, most experience shorter and less severe symptoms than those who skipped their annual flu shot.